“It’s a phenomenon that in our lifetime can’t be repeated..."
Star Trek’s 60th anniversary celebration continues this weekend in The Big Apple, and William Shatner will be there at New York Comic Con to talk a little Trek. And the iconic Captain James T. Kirk actor is well aware of just how special the science fiction franchise has become over the years. Shatner thoughtfully reflected on Star Trek’s diamond anniversary in a new interview ahead of NYCC but still managed to add a dash of humor to his observation by saying (per Entertainment Weekly):
“It’s a phenomenon that in our lifetime can’t be repeated, because you need a show that’s gonna last 60 years. And we won’t be around — or at least I won’t be around. And so, Star Trek is unique in the annals of show business. They’d say, ‘Well, what’s the secret?’ and I’d jokingly say, ‘Me? Maybe it is me.’ And then, ‘Wait a minute, you mean it’s not me?’
Shatner is being too modest because much of Star Trek’s success is due to his contributions to the franchise as the commander of the USS Enterprise, not to mention the character’s on-screen rapport with Mr. Spock. Trek’s hopeful message of Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations (IDIC) is also at the heart of the matter, but if the fans didn’t care about characters like Kirk and Spock, we wouldn’t be celebrating a 60th anniversary today.
Trek’s hopeful message of Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations (IDIC) is also at the heart of the matter, but if the fans didn’t care about characters like Kirk and Spock, we wouldn’t be celebrating a 60th anniversary in 2026.
Clearly, Kirk is one of my favorite Star Trek characters, largely thanks to William Shatner. However, both Chris Pine (Kelvin Timeline movies) and Paul Wesley (Strange New Worlds) have brought their own unique flavors to the character, which is just a reminder of how important the beloved captain is to the success of future trekking.
There’s a reason Captain Kirk keeps popping up in new iterations of Star Trek, and I, for one, would love to see Shatner himself don his iconic Starfleet uniform once more for either the small or big screens. Skydance executives, Shatner is willing to reprise the role under the right conditions. Don’t let this opportunity slip through your fingers.
For more Star Trek content and to share your own thoughts on the franchise’s 60th anniversary, visit the Redshirts Always Die Facebook and X pages. And William Shatner will appear Saturday, Oct. 10, at 3:15 p.m. ET on the Empire Stage at this year’s New York Comic Con.
Live long and prosper, Trekkies!
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